Last



E. W. DURKEE Oct. 8, 1929.

LAST

Filed April 18. 1928 a ttorfi e y Patented Oct. 8, 1929 ERNEST W. DURKEE, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS LAST Application filed April 18,

My present invention relates to lasts, and more particularly to lasts designed, adapted and intended for use as follower lasts, and includes my novel method of manufacturing and assembling said lasts.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a last which will be very economical to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide a follower last of the hinge type, in which no metallic parts are utilized in the hinge portion.

Another feature of the present invention consists in utilizing a strip of leather as the hinge medium,and providing means exerting such a tension on said leather s ip that said strip will act as means to automatically straighten said last. I utilize a strip of leather of sufficient thickness and strength to have a considerable amount of spring to it, so that when the last is broken, or collapsed, and then released, this spring of the leather, aided and assisted by the tension under which the leather is constantly held, will tend to automatically return the last parts to extended postion, and to hold said parts in said extended position. In order to positively insure this return of the last parts to extended or straightened position, I utilize an additional means, such as the well known Burns spring, to accomplish this result.

In carrying out my present invention, I first form a last with'a heel part and a forepart. In each of the said parts I then form a straight slot, the edges of each slot being alined with each other, but the slots themselves being at an angle to each other. Trans versely of the last, and crossing said slots, I then form, bore or drill dowelrecessesorholes. If desired, and preferably, I may drill these dowel holes before separating the last into its two parts. I then utilize a strip of leather, of correct length and width. This strip of leather is glued and fitted in the heel slot, with the flesh side preferably uppermost. Then the strip is glued and fitted in the fore part, which is then assembled with the heel part, preferably through the well known knuckle joint construction. I next drive, through the transverse holes, dowels, prefer- 1928. Serial No. 270,850.

ably of wood, and of less size than the size of the transverse holes. These dowels will force the leather which traverses these holes into the hole at one side of the straight slots, wedging the leather strip firmly in position, andexerting aconsiderable tension thereon, drawing the last parts into firm and close contact and acting, because of the tension and the natural spring of the leather, to retain these last parts in extended position.

A Burns spring, or other suitable or desir able spring means, may also be utilized to cooperate with the leather hinge strip to straighten the last parts, or to retain the same in extended position.

The last constructed according to my novel process is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, is strong, and economical to service.

If, for any reason such as'wear, or undue stretch of the leather, it is desired to replace the leather strip, it is a simple matter to drive out the wooden dowels, steam or otherwise soften the glue, if necessary, remove the leather hinge strip, glue and insert a new leather hinge strip, redrive the dowels, and the last'is again ready for use.

My present invention can be applied to any style of follower last, and while it may be utilized for other types of hinge lasts, it is primarily intended for use in follower lasts, as above explained. I

I believe that my present last, as above briefly described, is novel, and I have there fore claimed the same broadly in the present application.

I also believe that my method of manufacturing and assembling these lasts, as above described, is novel, and have therefore also claimed this process herein.

The above and other objects of the invention, details of construction, combinations of parts v and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of my present invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my novel last; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of my novel last, partly in section; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawings for a particular description of my present invention, 1 designates the heel part of a two-part last, and 2 represents the forepart of said last. These last parts 1 and 2 are separated by a line of out which forms opposing contacting faces 3 and 4t on the heel part and forepart respectively. Preferably, also, the last is constructed with the well-known knucklejoint 5 or circular bearing face, and abutting shoulders 6. Prior to being out, however, apertures or holes 7 in the heel part and 8 in the forepart, are formed or drilled. By drilling these holes 7 and 8 before separating the lastinto its two parts, I am enabled the betterto aline and space said holes.

The heel part 1 is then formed with asaw kerf or recess or slot 9, said recess being in line with and crossing the hole 7 The hinge member 10, which consists of a s 1,) of leather preferably having its flesh side uppermost, is then glued, preferably on each surface, and fitted in the recess 9 in the heel 1. The other end of the hinge strip 10 is then glued, or both ends may be glued at the same time if desired, and fitted in the saw kerf, recess or slot 11 in the forepart 2. The recess 11 is at slightly different angle than the recess 9, so that the leather strip will have a bend therein when the last parts are in ex:- tended position as shown in the drawing. Thus the natural spring of the leather will tend to force or move the last parts 1 and 2 to extended position and retain them in said position. When the hinge strip 10 has been fitted in both the forepart and heel part, and the two parts are united, I then drive wedges, or wedge dowels, 12 and 13, into the holes 7 and 8 in the forepart and heel part respectively. These dowels are of considerably less size than the size of the holes 7 and 8, and will j am the leather into that portion of the hole above or below the level of the kerfs or recesses 9 and 11. This wedging action will exert considerable. tension on the leather strip 10, thus drawing the last parts 1 and 2 into closer union, and retaining them in that position, as well as preventing the leather hinge member 10 from being displaced in its recesses 9 and 11. The wedge dowel 13 is preferably inserted in its hole 8 on the side of the leather strip opposite that side of the strip engaged by the wed e dowel 12 for ED firmer holding. An opening 14: is provided in the knuckle joint to allow for movement of the last parts 1 and 2 toward collapsing position. accommodating the leather hinge strip during said movement.

It will thus be appreciated that I have devised an entirely novel type of hinge last, having a hinge entirely comprised of non- Inetallic members.

lVhen it is desired to remove or replace the leather hinge strip 10, the glue may be softened with steam or in any other desirable lnanne if necessary, the wedge dowels 12 and 13 driven out, and the hinge strip 10 removed. Thereupon another leather iinge strip may be glued and fitted in the same manner, the wedge dowels 12 and 18 redriven, and the last is again ready for continued use.

In order to further insure that the parts 1 and 2 will be held in extended position, I utilize a well-known Burns spring construction, wherein the spring 15 is seated in a recess 16 in the heel part 1 and extends through an aperture 17 in the forepart 2, being held in place by a plug or block 18, preferably of wood.

The simplicity, cheapness of construction, and other advantages of my novel last, including the ease of manufacture, assembly, and replacement of parts, will instantly appeal to those skilled in this art.

The hinge construction illustrated herein is not limited to use with the parti ular style of last which is shown in the present application, but may be utilized in conjunction with any style or type of hinge last or follower, as will be readily understood and appreciated. Follower lasts, as is well known in the trade, are not subjected to the same shocks, blows and impacts as are first lasts.

lVhile l have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the spirit of the invention.

y invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. A last having a forepart and a heel part relatively movable, a leather hinge strip connecting said parts, and wedging means in said forepart and said heel part to secure said leather hinge strip in said parts, said wedging means creating a tension on said leather hinge strip to closely unite said parts.

2. A last having a forepart and a heel )ar' relatively movable, said heel part recess therein and having a transverse a erture through which said recess extends, sa'd forepart having a recess therein and having a transverse aperture through which said recess extends, a leather hinge strip in said recesses, and dowels in said transverse apertures, said dowels being of less size than said apertures and wedging a portion of said leather hinge strip in each of said transverse apertures.

S. A last having a forepart and a heel part relatively movable, said heel part having a recess therein and having a transverse aperture through which said recess extends, said forepart having a recess therein and having a transverse aperture through which said recess extends, a leather hinge strip in said recesses, and dowels in said transverse aperl E having a tures, said dowels being of less size than said apertures and wedging a portion of said leather hinge strip in each of said transverse apertures, said dowels being lo *ated respectively on opposite sides of said leather hinge strip.

4. A last having a forepart and a heel part relatively movable, said heel part having a recess therein and having a transverse aperture through which said recess extends, said forepart having a recess therein and having a transverse aperture through which said recess extends, a leather hinge strip in said re cesses, and dowels in said transverse apertures, said dowels being of less size than said apertures and wedg' a portion of said leather hinge strip in each of said transverse apertures, said recesses being at an angle to each other, whereby a bend is created in said leather strip to retain said last parts in eX- tended position.

5. That improvement in the art oi manufacturing two part lasts, which consists in forming a recess in each part, forming a r transverse aperture through each part and crossing said recesses, gluing and fitting a leather hinge strip in said recesses, driving wed ging dowels in said apertures and thereby exerting tension on said leather strip, whereby said leather hinge strip is ailixed to each of said last parts and said last parts are retained in close union by said leather hinge strip.

6 That improvement in the art of manufacturing two part lasts, which consists in forming a recess in each part at an angle to ea h other, forming a transverse aperture through each part and crossing said recesses, gluing and fitting a leather hinge strip in said recesses, driving wedging dowels in said apertures and thereby exerting tensionon said leather strip, whereby said leather hinge strip is affixed to each of said last parts and said last parts are retained in close union by said leather hinge strip, the formation of said recesses causing a bend in the leather strip which retains said last parts in extended position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ERNEST XV. DURKEE. 

